Umbrella.



F. W. HOWARD.

UMBRELLA.

man was. 191

APPLICATlON Patented July 30, 1918.

3 nwntoz Frank Wfior/ard Risa/bl: 140 a #5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

FRANK w. HOWARD, or NEW'YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

UMBRELLA.

Application filed August 3, 1914. Serial No. 854,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK TV. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to umbrellas and particularly to a type of umbrella which can be very economically manufactured and which can be sold for a nominal price.

- The invention relates particularly to the construction of the umbrella ribs and means for attaching them to the stick at the crown.

The invention relates also to the arrangement for securing the cover at the crown and relates to other features involving the reinforcing of the cover and an arrangement for tying the umbrella in its closed or folded position. i

A principal object of the invention is to construct an umbrellaof this type in a very simple and inexpensive manner.

The invention consists in the general combination of parts and in the features and simplicity of details hereinafter described, all of which contribute to produce an eflicient, umbrella. I

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described in the fol.- lowing specification while the broad scope of my invention will be pointed out'in the appended claims. r

In the drawings: r

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the umbrella in its open position.

Figure 1 is a vertical section at the crown of the umbrella showing the arrangement for attaching the ribs to the crown sleeve.

Fig.2 is a side elevation in its folded position.

Fig. 3 is a detailplan showing a portion of the cover ofthe umbrella and the means for reinforcing it and attaching it to the ribs.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4'4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 5 showing a portion of the edge of the cover illustrating a special arrangement for reinforcing the edge of the cover without the useof a reinforcing cord.

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation illustratline 5 5 of rolled collar or flange 5,:

for the purpose of facilitating the attaching an improvement in the arrangement for connecting the stretchers to the ribs.

Fig. 7 is a section throughthe edge of the cover taken at an eyelet.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section and partial elevation taken at the umbrella crown and showing another arrangement for attaching the ribs at the crown.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line'99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a cross section similar to Fig. 9

but showing a modified form of the crown sleeve.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to'Fig. 1", but showing another arrangement for attaching the umbrella ribs to the crown sleeve.

Referring more particularly to the parts,

1 represents an umbrella stick which may be steel, but is preferably of a compressible material, such wood, and provided at its lower end with a knob or handle '2. At the umbrellacrown 3, Iprovide a crown sleeve -l of slightly larger diameter than the stick, said sleeve being preferably formed at its upper extremity with an-inte ral outwardly saifi flange being ment of the umbrella ribs 6. r

According-to my invention the ribs and their retalnlng sleeve have interlocking vmeans to prevent the ribs swinging circumferentially around the stick.

Patented July 30, 1918.

These ribs are preferably formed'of light resilient wire and each rib is formed with a flexible portion which may be in the form of. an integral coil 7 near the umbrella; crown, and each coil 7 has an integral extension 8 which passes up on the inner side of the sleeve. I prefer to provide means for preventing the extensions 8 from rotating, in order to prevent the ribs from'swinging circumferentially about the extensions 8- around the stick. To accomplish this, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, each extension 8 is formed with a laterally projecting shank 9 which passes through the wall of the sleeve 4 and through the. collar or flange 5. These shanks 9 hold the ribs. in position so that they are equidistantly spaced around the periphery of the stick and the cover, and it is evident they also keep the ribs from swinging pivotally on theaxes of theiextensions S. i

The stickis of such diameter that when the crown sleeve with the attached ribs is forced over its end the extensions 8 slightly crush the material of the stick and secure the sleeve against rotation and against longitudinal movement on the stick, lVhen the umbrella is opened or closed, the coils 7 flex and in this way permit the necessary movement of the ribs.

On the stick 1, I provide a runner 10 of any suitable construction, such as that illustrated in my copending application Serial No. M1149. This runner comprises a sleeve 11 formed of a wire coil which can be released by pressing an extension of the coil, such as the extensions 12, said extensions being arranged in such a way that when they are pressed together the coil releases its grasp uponthe stick. To the runner 10, stretchers 13 are attached, said stretchers corresponding to the different ribs 6 and being attached thereto preferably in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. In making a connection between the rib 6 and the stretcher 13, I prefer to form an eye 1-l by projecting the material of the rib 6 laterally or inwardly to form an open loop, and then close this loop to form a closed eye by forcing the extensions 6 and 6 of the rib toward each other until portions, such as the portions 15 of the loop or extension, abut against each other. The extensions 6 and 6 are in substantially axial line with each other. The stretcher 13 is attached. to the eye 14 by a simple loop or eye 16.

Instead of attaching the ribs to the sleeve by'forming a collar on the sleeve, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 1, I may adapt a form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 in which a sleeve 17 is employed of slightly larger diameter from the stick, having notches 18 formed in its extremity, and inwardly disposed extensions or tongues 19 formed between the notches. This form of sleeve is produced simply by notching the end of a cylindrical sleeve and then bending in the material between the notches to form the parts 19. The ribs 20 have integral coils 21 and extensions 22 extending longitudinally on the inner side of the sleeve and lying in the notches between the tongues 19. vAt the upper end of the sleeve the extensions 22 have outwardly disposed shanks 23 which are received in the notches at this end of the sleeve and hold the ribs in radial position. These shanks 23 also prevent the ribs from swinging on their extensions circumferentially about the stick.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, at the crown 3 I provide a cap 2st having a neck 25 of reduced diameter which fits tightly on the end of the stick; this cap surrounds the sleeve 4 and the coils 7 and its lower end is expanded to form a bell mouth 26 which receives the coils 21 and the inner edge of the cover 27 of the umbrella; this inner edge of the cover is then-held in place by split ring 28 which resilieutly clamps the edge of the cover in the bell mouth. This split ring will be formed of flat wire.

The umbrella cover is preferably formed of waterproof paper but near the crown it is preferably provided with a reinforcing center 29 of cloth. If this cloth is disposed inside as indicated in Fig. 1, both the edge of the clot-h and the edge of the paper cover extend up inside the cap, but if the center 30 is disposed outside, as indicated in Fig. 8, the cloth only extends up into the mouth of the cap 31 where it is secured by the split ring 32, as indicated in Fig. 8.

The cover is preferably attached to the ribs by means of wire clips or staples 33 the points 34 of which pass through a reinforcing piece 35 of paper or similar material and are then clenched around the inner side of the ribs. These points are clenched around the ribs in opposite directions.

In order to reinforce the umbrella cover at its edge and also form a tie, I prefer to provide the umbrella cover at its edges with a fold forming a hem 3 1 and in this hem there is located a continuous reinforcing cord At a point preferably near the middle line between two ribs this cord passes out of the hem so as to provide a free or loose end 36, and at this point a button 37 is provided. This arrangement enables the reinforcing cord to be used as a tie, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the loose end 36 being passed around the umbrella and then wrapped in several turns around the button; The edge of the cover is preferably attached to the ends of the ribs by means of eyelets 38 which pass through and are riveted to the cover at the hem 3 1 the ends of the ribs being bent up to form eyes 39 engaging these eyelets. The eyelets lie flatly against thesides of the ribs.

Instead of forming a single fold in the edge of the umbrella cover, as shown in Fig. 3, I may provide several folds, as indicated at 40 in Fig. 7, which reinforces the material for the eyelet 41. I may also form a double fold hem 12, as indicated in Fig. 5. WVhen the material is reinforced this Way by heavy folds, it is unnecessary to employ the reinforcing cord 35.

Referring again to the crown of the um-. brella, and particularly to the means for holding the ribs in position on the crown, attention is called to Fig. 10 in which I illustrate a modified construction, the modification consisting in forming the sleeve 43 with longitudinal corrugations 44 which produce channels or grooves on the inner side of the sleeve which receive the longi tudinal extensions 4:5 of the ribs; this form of sleeve may or may not be provided with notches similar to the notches 18, but preferably is provided with such notches.

With an umbrella employing my inventions as described above, it is evident that the ribs can be very simply formed by machinery and attached to the crown sleeve, furthermore, the crown can be very readily attached to the stick. The cover is very inexpensive and readily attached to the ribs and to the crown cap. Special attention is called to the eye 14 on the ribs and the manner in which this eye is produced, and to the fact that this eye is very readily formed by machinery. The folds of the reinforcing hem at the edge of the cover are connected together by a water-proof adhesive.

Special attention is called to the arrangement at the edge of the cover assisting in placing the cord 35* so that itextends past the outer edges of the eyelets 38, this re-- lieves the paper of strain and there is advantage also in the fact that each eyelet is substantially in the plane of the cover at the point where the eyelet is attached, and so that the' eyelet lies flat against the outer side of the rib to which it is secured.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described above is only one of the many forms or embodiments my invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the use of my invention nor in my claims to the particular embodiment set forth.

\Vhat I claim is 2- 1. In an umbrella, the combination of a crown sleeve, a stick receiving the same, a plurality of ribs having flexible coils adjacent one end of said sleeve to permit the outward and inward movement of the ribs in opening and closing the umbrella, said ribs having integral extensions beyond said coils for engaging and crushing the side of the stick to fix said sleeve and ribs thereupon, a cap mounted on said stick enveloping said sleeve and having an expanded end receiving said coils and a cover attached to said ribs having an opening at the center thereof, the edge of said opening being secured in the lower end of said cap.

2. An umbrella cover of water-proof paper having an integral fold forming a hemmed edge to reinforce said cover at the outer edge thereof, and eyelets mounted in said hemmed edge for engaging the umbrella ribs, and a cord in said folded hemmed edge for reinforcing the same, said cord having a loose end extending out of said hemmed edge, and a button attached to said cover cooperating with said cord to form a tie for encircling the umbrella when closed.

3. An umbrella having a crown sleeve and a frame, a cover attached to said frame, a cap on said crown sleeve, said cover being arranged with the central portion thereof engaging said cap, and a split ring resiliently clamping the central portion of said cover to said cap.

4. In an umbrella, the combination of a stick, a plurality of ribs having flexible portions adjacent the stick to permit the opening and closing movements of the umbrella, and having round extensions beyond said flexible portions lying against the side of the stick, a sleeve fitting tightly over said extensions and said stick for crushing said extensions into the material of the stick to clamp said extensions and the sleeve rigidly on the stick, and thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the sleeve and ribs along the stick, said ribs and said sleeve having interlocking means for preventing swinging movement of said ribs on the axes of said extensions in a circumferential direction around the stick.

5. In an umbrella, the combination of a stick, a plurality or ribs having flexible portions adjacent the stick operating to flex in opening or closing the umbrella, and having round extensions beyond said flexible portions lying against the side of the stick, a sleeve fitting tightly over said extensions and said stick to crush the stick by said cxtensions and thereby clamp the said extensions and the sleeve rigidly on the stick to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve and ribs along the stick, said extensions each having a lateral projection for preventing swinging movement of said ribs on the axes of said extensions in a circumferential direction around the stick.

6. In an umbrella, the combination of a stick, a plurality ofribs having-flexible portions adjacent the stick operating to flex in opening or closing the umbrella, and having round extensions beyond said flexible portions lying against the side of the stick, a sleeve fitting tightly over said extensions and said stick, for clamping the said extensions rigidly against the stick to crush the material of the stick and prevent longi-.

tudinal movement of the sleeve and ribs along the stick, said extensions each having an outwardly bent end, and said sleeve having notches engaging said bent ends of said extensions "for preventing swinging movement of said ribs on the axes of said extensions in a circumferential direction around the stick. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set any hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK w. HOWARD.

lVitnesses:

1 D. AMMEN, AeNns DE Mo'i'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

